Computer docking station

ABSTRACT

A computer docking station is provided for supporting and electrically coupling to a portable computer that includes a docking connector and an aperture at least partly defining a carrying handle for the computer. The docking station includes a body with a cradle portion configured to support a portion of the computer and having a connector operable to electrically couple with the docking connector of the computer. The body further includes an arm portion sized and configured to be received in the aperture in the computer. A latching member is coupled with the arm portion and is movable between a first position relative to the arm portion, in which the arm portion can be inserted into or removed from the aperture in the portable computer, and a second position relative to the arm portion, in which the arm portion cannot be removed from the aperture in the portable computer.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to computer docking stations.

Portable, tablet-style computers are known for use in various industries(e.g. the medical industry). Such tablet-style computers commonlyinclude an integral carrying handle formed at least in part by anaperture in the body of the computer.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention provides a computer docking station forsupporting and electrically coupling to a portable computer thatincludes a docking connector and an aperture at least partly defining acarrying handle for the portable computer. The docking station includesa body with a cradle portion configured to support a portion of theportable computer and having a connector operable to electrically couplewith the docking connector of the portable computer. The body furtherincludes an arm portion sized and configured to be received in theaperture in the portable computer. A latching member is coupled with thearm portion and is movable between a first position relative to the armportion, in which the arm portion can be inserted into or removed fromthe aperture in the portable computer, and a second position relative tothe arm portion, in which the arm portion cannot be removed from theaperture in the portable computer. An optional lock mechanism can beprovided to selectively lock the latching member in the second position.

In another embodiment the invention provides a computer docking stationfor supporting and electrically coupling to a portable computer thatincludes a docking connector and an aperture. The docking stationincludes a body with a cradle portion configured to support a portion ofthe portable computer and having a connector operable to electricallycouple with the docking connector of the portable computer. The bodyfurther includes an arm portion sized and configured to be received inthe aperture in the portable computer. A latching member is coupled withthe arm portion and is movable between a first, retracted positionwithin the arm portion, in which the arm portion can be inserted into orremoved from the aperture in the portable computer, and a second,extended position from the arm portion, in which the arm portion cannotbe removed from the aperture in the portable computer. The latchingmember automatically moves from the second position to the firstposition as the arm portion is being inserted into the aperture of theportable computer, and automatically moves from the first position tothe second position once the arm portion is fully inserted into theaperture of the portable computer. The latching member includes a camsurface engageable by the portable computer as the arm portion is beinginserted into the aperture to automatically move the latching memberfrom the second position to the first position. An optional lockmechanism can be provided to selectively lock the latching member in thesecond position.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable computer docked in acomputer docking station embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the computer docking station embodyingthe invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the computer docking station of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the computer docking station taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the arm portion of the dockingstation of FIG. 2 shown with a latching member in a first position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view of the arm portion of the dockingstation of FIG. 2 shown with the latching member in a second position.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the latching assembly and lockmechanism.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the computer docking station of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portable computer 10 docked in a docking station 14of the present invention. The illustrated portable computer 10 is atablet-style portable computer having an aperture 18 formed in and/orthrough the body 22 of the computer 10 to at least partially define acarrying handle 24 of the computer 10. One example of such a portabletablet-style computer 10 is the Panasonic Toughbook CF-H1 computer.

The docking station 14 is operable to support and electrically couple tothe computer 10 when the computer 10 is not being carried by hand. Thedocking station 14 can be mounted virtually anywhere the computer mightbe used, including in a room or in a vehicle. Additionally, the dockingstation 14 can be mounted on a movable cart, desk, or the like to renderthe computer 10 mobile even when docked in the docking station 14.Various mounting hardware (not shown) can be used to secure the dockingstation 14 in the appropriate manner to a support surface. Theillustrated docking station 14 is configured to have a shape that isform-fitting to the computer 10 such that very little of the dockingstation 14 can be seen when the computer 10 is docked with the dockingstation 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-8, the docking station 14 includes a body 28that is primarily plastic (e.g., polycarbonate resin), but in otherembodiments could be primarily metal or other suitable materials. Theillustrated docking station 14 also includes some nylon parts, steelbrackets, electrical components, and steel hardware. The body 28includes a cradle portion 32 configured to support a portion of thecomputer 10, and in the illustrated embodiment supports a bottom orlower portion of the computer. As used herein and in the appendedclaims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”,and other directional terms are not intended to require any particularorientation, but are instead used for purposes of description only. Thecradle portion 32 includes a base wall 36 sized and configured to engageand support the lower edge of the computer 10. As best shown in FIGS. 2and 8, the base wall 36 includes one or more breaks or apertures 40formed therein. The apertures 40 can provide access to the supportedlower edge of the computer 10 when the computer is supported in thedocking station 14. As shown in FIG. 8, one aperture 40 provides accessto a barcode scanning lens 42, but can also allow a user to makeelectrical connections to electrical ports, connectors, and the likefound in the lower edge of the computer 10. Furthermore, the apertures40 can additionally, or alternatively be operable to provide analignment feature for mating with alignment features on the lower edgeof the computer 10. Yet additionally, the apertures 40, by virtue of theremoved material, can provide some resiliency or flexibility to thecradle portion 32 to facilitate insertion and removal of the computer 10from the docking station 14. It is to be understood that the number,location, and configuration of the apertures 40 can vary as desired, andperhaps based on the particular computer 10 to be docked.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base wall 36 also supports aconnector 44 (see FIG. 2) sized and configured to electrically couplewith a mating docking connector (not shown) on the computer 10. Theelectrical coupling of computers and docking stations using connectors44 and the mating docking connectors on computers is well known, andwill not be described further. Grounding pins 48 also extend from thebase wall 36 on opposite sides of the connector 44 to ground thecomputer 10 when it is docked in the docking station 14.

The base wall 36 transitions into opposing, generally parallel sidewalls 52 that further define the cradle portion 32 and engageoppositely-facing edges of the computer 10. In the illustratedembodiment, the base wall 36 and each side wall 52, along with thetransitions therebetween are sized and configured to engage and supportlower edge corners of the computer 10.

The cradle portion 32 is also partly defined by a rear wall 56intersecting the base wall 36 to engage and support a lower rear surfaceof the computer 10 when it is positioned in the cradle portion 32. Theillustrated rear wall 56 includes one or more alignment projections 60sized, configured, and positioned to align with recesses (not shown) inthe rear surface of the computer 10. The alignment projections 60 helpto obtain an aligned, snug fit of the computer 10 within the cradleportion 32.

The cradle portion 32 further includes at least one flange extendingfrom the base wall 36 to engage and support a front surface of thecomputer 10 when it is positioned in the cradle portion 32, therebysecuring the lower portion of the computer 10 within the cradle portion32. The illustrated embodiment includes three flanges 64 a, b, and c.The flange 64 a extends from a central portion of the base wall 36 andhas a flange portion 68 that extends in a direction generally normal tothe base wall 36. One or more strengthening ribs 72 can be formed on anouter surface of the flange portion 68 to provide the desired strengthand rigidity to the flange 64 a. Flanges 64 b and 64 c extend fromopposite distal ends of the base wall 36 and are coupled with therespective side walls 52. As best shown in FIG. 4, each flange 64 b, 64c includes a first flange portion 76 that extends in a directiongenerally normal to the base wall 36, and a second flange portion 80that extends in a direction oblique to the base wall 36 to facilitateinsertion of the computer 10 into the cradle portion. FIG. 4 illustratesthe computer 10 in phantom lines angled relative to base wall 36 asdictated by the engagement of the front surface of the computer 10 withthe second flange portions 80. Therefore, the second flange portions 80act as a lead-in or guiding surface during insertion of the computer 10into the docking station 14. The cradle portion 32 acts as a pivot pointfor the computer 10 during the docking process.

A connection module 84 is coupled with the cradle portion 32. As bestshown in FIG. 8, the connection module 84 includes electricalconnections (e.g., a power connection 86, a network or phone connection88, standard pin connections 90 for monitors, printers, and the like,and USB ports 92). The various electrical connections are electricallycoupled to the computer through the connector 44, as is well known.

The body 28 of the docking station 14 further includes an arm portion 96sized and configured to be received in the aperture 18 in the computer10. In the illustrated embodiment, the arm portion 96 extends entirelythrough the aperture 18, however in other embodiments, the arm portion18 need not extend entirely through the aperture 18, but could insteadextend into the aperture 18 without extending all the way through andback out of the aperture 18.

A transition portion 100 of the body 28 extends between the arm portion96 and the cradle portion 32. In the illustrated embodiment, thetransition portion 100 has a front surface 104 that smoothly transitionsthe rear wall 56 of the cradle portion 32 into the arm portion 96without any seams, parting lines, or other discontinuities that mightcollect dirt or debris. The front surface 104 of the illustratedtransition portion 100 has a portion 108 that is generally co-planarwith the rear wall 56 of the cradle portion 32, and a portion 112 thatis curved or contoured to generally conform to and receive the rearsurface of the computer 10 (e.g., the rear surface itself or an integralhandle strap assembly extending from the rear surface).

The arm portion 96 includes a bottom surface 116, which can include oneor more ribs 120 extending to the front surface 104 of the transitionportion 100. The ribs 120 are engageable with the rear surface of thecomputer 10 (see FIG. 6) to help guide the arm portion 96 into theaperture 18 of the computer 10. The ribs 120 can also provide strengthand rigidity to the arm portion 96, which can resiliently deflectsomewhat relative to the transition portion 100 during insertion of thearm portion 96 into the aperture 18 of the computer 10. The bottomsurface 116, and the arm portion 96 in general, are oriented to begenerally parallel with the base wall 36 of the cradle portion 32. Inother words, the arm portion 96 extends from a remainder of the body 28in a direction generally parallel to the base wall 36, so as to bereceived in and extend through the aperture 18, which extends throughthe body 22 of the computer 10 in a direction generally normal to thefront surface of the computer 10.

The arm portion 96 also includes a top surface 124 spaced from andgenerally parallel to the bottom surface 116. The top surface 124 andbottom surface 116 are spaced apart by a distance slightly smaller thana height of the aperture 18. The illustrated top surface 124 includes arecess 126 sized and configured to receive the handle 24 of the computer10 when the computer 10 is docked in the docking station 14. Oppositeside surfaces 128 of the arm portion 96 extend between the top andbottom surfaces 124, 116.

A latching member 132 is coupled with the arm portion 96 and is movablebetween a first position relative to the arm portion 96, in which thearm portion 96 can be inserted into or removed from the aperture 18 (seeFIG. 5), and a second position relative to the arm portion 96, in whichthe arm portion 96 cannot be removed from the aperture 18 (see FIGS. 1-4and 6). In the illustrated embodiment, the latching member 132 isretracted relative to and into the arm portion 96 when in the firstposition, and is extended relative to and from the arm portion 96 whenin the second position. While the latching member 132 is illustrated asbeing positioned on the top surface 124 of the arm portion, the latchingmember 132 can alternatively be positioned on the bottom surface 116 oron the side surfaces 128 of the arm portion 96 to engage differentportions of the aperture 18.

Referring to FIG. 7, the latching member 132 is part of a latchingassembly 136 coupled with the arm portion 96. In the illustratedembodiment, the latching assembly 136 is sandwiched between a fronthousing portion 138 a and a rear housing portion 138 b that togetherdefine part of the docking station 14. A base 140 of the latchingassembly 136 is housed within the arm portion 96 and supports thelatching member 132 in a manner that permits the latching member 132 tomove between the first and second positions within an aperture 142formed in the top surface 124. Specifically, the latching member 132 ispivotally connected to the base 140 via a pin 144 received through atubular portion 148 of the latching member 132. The pin 144 is supportedat its ends by the base 140. A biasing member in the form of acompression spring 152 biases the latching member 132 relative to thebase 140 and the arm portion 96 to the second, or extended position.

A projection 156 extends from the latching member 132 through a slot 160in the base 140 and into a corresponding slot 164 in a front surface 168of the arm portion 96. An activation member 172 is coupled to theprojection 156 and is accessible to a user to manually move the latchingmember 132 to the first position. The illustrated activation member 172is a generally disk-shaped part that can be manually pressed in adirection downwardly and to the left (as indicated by the indicia arrow176) to move the latching member 132 from the second position to thefirst position, against the bias of the spring 152. In otherembodiments, the activation member 172 can simply be the end of theprojection 156. It is to be understood that the illustrated latchingassembly 136 is just one possible configuration that can be used withthe docking station 14. Other latching assemblies capable of providing alatching member movable between two positions (i.e., latched andunlatched) relative to the arm portion 96 can be substituted.

The illustrated latching assembly 136 further includes an optional lockmechanism 180 operable to selectively lock the latching member 132 inthe second, or extended position. When the computer 10 is docked in thedocking station 14 and the lock mechanism 180 locks the latching member132 in the extended position, the computer 10 cannot be removed from thedocking station 14 because the arm portion 96 cannot be removed fromwithin the aperture 18. The lock mechanism 180 is at least partiallyreceived in the arm portion 96 (via aperture 182 in the front surface168), and in the illustrated embodiment is operated with a key to rotatea cam 184. When the lock mechanism 180 is engaged (i.e., locked) to lockthe latching member 132 in the second position, the cam 184 prevents thelatching member 132 from moving to the first position, retracted withinthe arm portion 96. When the lock mechanism 180 is not engaged (i.e.,unlocked), the latching member 132 is free to retract into the base 140and into the arm portion 96. Other lock mechanisms can be substitutedfor the illustrated key-activated lock mechanism.

The latching member 132 is configured such that it can automaticallymove from the second, extended position, to the first, retractedposition as the arm portion 96 is being inserted into the aperture 18.The illustrated latching member 132 includes two oblique cam surfaces188, 192 that intersect to define a cam surface edge 196. The first camsurface 188 slopes upwardly and rearwardly relative to the front surface168 of the arm portion 96. The second cam surface 192 slopes upwardlyand left-to-right relative to the front surface 168 of the arm portion96. Therefore, the intersection of the two cam surfaces 188 and 192define the cam surface edge 196 that slopes upwardly, rearwardly, andleft-to-right relative to the front surface 168 of the arm portion 96.As the arm portion 96 is inserted into the aperture 18 of the computer10 during docking, the upper inner surface of the computer defining theaperture 18 engages the two cam surfaces 188, 192 and the cam surfaceedge 196 and automatically moves the latching member 132 from thesecond, extended position to the first, retracted position as the armportion 96 is inserted into the aperture 18 (see FIG. 5).

Once the arm portion 96 is fully inserted through the aperture 18, thelatching member 132, under the biasing force of the spring 152,automatically moves from the first, retracted position, back to thesecond, extended position to secure the computer 10 in the dockingstation 14 (see FIG. 6). An audible “click” will be heard to confirm thelatching mechanism 132 has returned to the second, extended position.The lock mechanism 180 can then be locked to prevent the computer 10from being removed.

To remove the computer 10 from the docking station 14, the user canunlock the lock mechanism 180 if it had been locked. Next, the usermanually moves the activation member 172 in the direction illustrated inthe indicia arrow 176 so that the latching mechanism 132 moves to thesecond, retracted position, thereby allowing the user to pivot the topof the computer 10 away from the arm portion 96 to remove the armportion 96 from the aperture 18. The undocking and removal of thecomputer 10 can be done with a single hand, whereby the user grabs thehandle 24 as if picking the computer 10 up off a table. The user's thumbwill be generally aligned with the activation member 172 so that theactivation member 172 can be intuitively pressed by the user's thumb,and at the same time, the user can pivot the top of the computer 10 awayfrom the arm portion 96 to remove the computer 10 from the dockingstation 14. Alternatively, the user can press down directly on thelatching member 132 to move the latching member 132 to the second,retracted position.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in thefollowing claims.

1. A computer docking station for supporting and electrically couplingto a portable computer that includes a docking connector and an apertureat least partly defining a carrying handle for the portable computer,the docking station comprising: a body having a cradle portionconfigured to support a portion of the portable computer and having aconnector operable to electrically couple with the docking connector ofthe portable computer; and an arm portion sized and configured to bereceived in the aperture in the portable computer; and a latching membercoupled with the arm portion and movable between a first positionrelative to the arm portion, in which the arm portion can be insertedinto or removed from the aperture in the portable computer, and a secondposition relative to the arm portion, in which the arm portion cannot beremoved from the aperture in the portable computer.
 2. The computerdocking station of claim 1, wherein when in the first position, thelatching member is retracted relative to the arm portion, and when inthe second position, the latching member is extended relative to the armportion.
 3. The computer docking station of claim 2, wherein thelatching member is at least partially retracted into the arm portionwhen in the first position and is at least partially extended from thearm portion when in the second position.
 4. The computer docking stationof claim 3, further comprising a biasing member biasing the latchingmember toward the second position.
 5. The computer docking station ofclaim 3, wherein the latching member is retracted and extended from atop surface of the arm portion.
 6. The computer docking station of claim1, wherein the latching member automatically moves from the secondposition to the first position as the arm portion is being inserted intothe aperture of the portable computer, and automatically moves from thefirst position to the second position once the arm portion is fullyinserted into the aperture of the portable computer.
 7. The computerdocking station of claim 6, wherein the latching member includes a camsurface engageable by the portable computer as the arm portion is beinginserted into the aperture to automatically move the latching memberfrom the second position to the first position.
 8. The computer dockingstation of claim 7, wherein the cam surface includes two oblique camsurfaces intersecting to define a cam surface edge.
 9. The computerdocking station of claim 1, further comprising a lock mechanism operableto selectively lock the latching member in the second position.
 10. Thecomputer docking station of claim 9, wherein the lock mechanism isoperated with a key.
 11. The computer docking station of claim 9,wherein the lock mechanism is at least partially received in the armportion.
 12. The computer docking station of claim 1, further comprisingan activation member manually operable to move the latching member tothe first position.
 13. The computer docking station of claim 1, whereinthe cradle portion includes a base wall operable to engage and supportan edge of the portable computer, and wherein the connector is on thebase wall.
 14. The computer docking station of claim 13, wherein the armportion extends from the body in a direction generally parallel to thebase wall.
 15. The computer docking station of claim 13, wherein thebase wall includes at least one aperture formed therein.
 16. Thecomputer docking station of claim 13, further comprising at least oneflange extending from the base wall and having a first portion thatextends in a direction generally normal to the base wall.
 17. Thecomputer docking station of claim 16, wherein the at least one flangeincludes a second portion that extends in a direction oblique to thebase wall to facilitate insertion of the portable computer into thecradle portion.
 18. The computer docking station of claim 13, whereinthe base wall transitions into opposing side walls that also define thecradle portion and engage oppositely-facing edges of the portablecomputer.
 19. The computer docking station of claim 13, wherein thecradle portion further includes a rear wall intersecting the base wall,the rear wall including alignment projections positioned to align withrecesses in the portable computer to align the portable computer in thedocking station.
 20. The computer docking station of claim 13, whereinthe cradle portion further includes a rear wall intersecting the basewall, the rear wall transitioning into a transition portion of the bodythat couples the arm portion and the cradle portion.
 21. The computerdocking station of claim 1, further comprising at least one rib formedat least partially on the arm portion, the rib engageable with theportable computer to guide the arm portion into the aperture in theportable computer.
 22. The computer docking station of claim 1, furthercomprising a connection module coupled with the cradle portion toprovide electrical connections to the docking station.
 23. A computerdocking station for supporting and electrically coupling to a portablecomputer that includes a docking connector and an aperture, the dockingstation comprising: a body having a cradle portion configured to supporta portion of the portable computer and having a connector operable toelectrically couple with the docking connector of the portable computer;and an arm portion sized and configured to be received in the aperturein the portable computer; and a latching member coupled with the armportion and movable between a first, retracted position within the armportion, in which the arm portion can be inserted into or removed fromthe aperture in the portable computer, and a second, extended positionfrom the arm portion, in which the arm portion cannot be removed fromthe aperture in the portable computer; wherein the latching memberautomatically moves from the second position to the first position asthe arm portion is being inserted into the aperture of the portablecomputer, and automatically moves from the first position to the secondposition once the arm portion is fully inserted into the aperture of theportable computer; and wherein the latching member includes a camsurface engageable by the portable computer as the arm portion is beinginserted into the aperture to automatically move the latching memberfrom the second position to the first position.